Born into a Romany gypsy family in 1939, Eva Petulengro’s childhood seemed to her to be idyllic in every way. She would travel the country with her family in their painted caravan and spend evenings by the fire as they sang and told stories of their past. She didn’t go to school or visit a doctor when she was unwell. Instead her family would gather wild herbs to make traditional remedies, hunt game and rabbits, and while the men tended horses to make a living, the young girls would join the women in reading palms. But Eva’s perfect world would be turned upside down as the countryside became increasingly hostile to all travellers. Eva describes the wonderful characters in her family, from her grandfather ‘Naughty’ Petulengro to her four beautiful aunts who entranced everyone they met, as well as the fascinating people they came across on the road. Moving, evocative, romantic and funny, The Girl in the Painted Caravan vividly captures a way of life that has now, sadly, all but disappeared.

Born into a Romany gypsy family in 1939, Eva Petulengro's childhood seemed to her to be idyllic in every way. She would travel the country with her family in their painted caravan and spend evenings by the fire as they sang and told stories of their past. Her family would gather wild herbs to make traditional remedies, hunt game and rabbits, and while the men tended horses to make a living, the young girls would join the women in reading palms.

'The Girl in the Painted Caravan' vividly captures a way of life that has now, sadly, all but disappeared. The book tells the story of Romany gypsy, Eva Petulengro.

Travelling art

THE FAIRY CARAVAN is the story of a miniature circus, William and Alexander's Travelling Circus. It is no ordinary circus, for Alexander is a highland terrier and William is Pony Billy who draws the caravan. Beatrix Potter wrote this chapter book for older children towards the end of her writing career. She wrote it for her own pleasure and at the request of friends in America who shared her love of the Lake District and north country tales.

Are you ready for the coziest book of the year, with the charm of a modern-day Beatrix Potter? Pull up your comfiest chair, snuggle under a warm blanket, and discover the peaceful, enchanting world of Ruby Red Shoes and her grandmother, where friends are always welcome. Ruby Red Shoes is a thoughtful bunny who lives in a colorful painted caravan with her beloved grandmother. She is gentle and kind and cares for all living things. She loves strawberry jam, peppermint tea, long baths, and her wonderful pet chickens! Children just learning to read on their own will treasure this beautiful story that they can read on their own or enjoy as a read-aloud. Teeming with whimsy, Ruby's mindful, tranquil world embraces the reader like a warm hug. And bedtimes will be gentle, sweet moments, as young readers see Ruby and her grandmother tucked in with a book and a favorite quilt, watching the magical stars twinkle in the velvety sky. Once you've made friends with Ruby Red Shoes, you'll have a friend for life. "As a student of pleasant companionship, mindful existence, and living one’s best life, Ruby Red Shoes excels, paws down."—Publishers Weekly "Everything about this book asks readers to go slowly, to put aside the expected, and to savor the simplicity of the moment."—Kirkus

Mikey Walsh didn't know what life was like beyond his Gypsy community. But after fleeing home at age fifteen, he had no choice but to find out. After centuries of persecution, Gypsies are wary of outsiders, and if you choose to leave, you can never come back. Torn between his family and his heart, Mikey struggled to come to terms with the Gypsy culture and its violent, conservative traditions. At last, he decided to set out on his own. He soon discovered the outside world wasn't all that he expected, and his life would never be the same again.A shocking yet ultimately triumphant memoir, Gypsy Boy on the Run follows Mikey as he comes to terms with himself, his family, and his past—and builds a new life for himself.

Chengli is an orphaned errand boy who lives in Chang'an China in 630 A.D. His mother has died from illness and his father is presumed dead after disappearing into the desert when Chengli was a baby. Now thirteen, Chengli feels ready for independence. He is drawn to the desert, beckoned by the howling of strange winds and the hope of learning something about his father--who he was and how he died. Chengli joins a caravan to travel down the merchant route known as the Silk Road, but it is a dangerous life, as his father knew. The desert is harsh, and there are many bandits--bandits interested in Chengli's caravan because a princess, her servants, and royal guards are traveling with them. But the desert is full of amazing places and life-changing experiences, as the feisty princess learns the meaning of friendship and Chengli learns the heroism of which he is capable.

In this bitingly honest autobiographical essay, Orwell recounts his days as a pupil at St Cyprian's preparatory school in Eastbourne, Sussex. He reflects on a 'world of force and fraud and secrecy,' where the actual 'pattern of school life' was played out as a continuous triumph of the strong over the weak. Reflecting on the hypocrisy of Edwardian society, Orwell condemns the education he received as 'a preparation for a sort of confidence trick,' designed mercinarily to prepare pupils for exams without concern for real knowledge or understanding. This is Orwell as political dissident and supreme chronicler of class conflict.